Circular-knitting machine.



No. 698,549. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

' K. PALME.

CIRCULAR KMTTING MACHINE (Applicatiqn flied Aug 21. 1901. w

(No Modelf: 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

W/TNESSES K IN ifs/7'05 .\s. 9

/' A TTOHNE V THE NORRIS PUER o0. moromuufl WASNINGTON. a c.

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No. 698,549. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

K. PALME.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 1901. (No Model.) I 4 Sheetg-Sheet 2 m '3 g b H WITNESSES. v INVENTUI? m: Nona-s PETEPS C0,. FNOTO LITHOH WASHINGTON, u. c.

(No ModeL) K. PALME.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 29, I902.

(Application filgd Aug. 21 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W/ TNESSES INVENTOH Kwe m,

A TTOHNE) Patented A r; 29, I902.

K PALME. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE (Application filed Aug. 21, 1901.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

! llllllllllllllll(llllIlllllllillllll'lllllllllll llll 7 l l INVENTOI? j g P %Q WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL PALME, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 698,549, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed August 21 1901. Serial No. 72.761. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, KARL PALME, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain The object of this invention is to provide in a circular-knitting machine a simple and efficient construction and organization of mechanism whereby a web comprising a seamless tubular section and a wholly or partially fashioned fiat section may be produced. v Such a web may be utilized as a stocking-leg blank or as a complete stocking-blank, as the length and configuration of the flat portion of the web may determine.

The primary feature of my invention resides in acertain independently-movable cam so constructed and arranged in relation to the knitting-cams as to be movable either above or between the butts of adjacent needles, as desired, together with means for imparting the requisite adjustments to the said cam at predetermined intervals during the knitting operation, as will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

The invention also comprises novel structural features and combinations of parts,

i which will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a circular-knitting machine .embodying my invention. the latch and slide devices. Fig. 3 is avertical sectionas on the 1ine3 3 of Fig. 1, including the needle-cylinder, the cam-cylinder having been moved a quarter-turn. Fig. 4: is a development of the interior of the camcylinder and adjuncts. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail as on the line .5 5 of'Fig. 1., Fig. 6 is an elevation of the double cam-head for controlling the positions of the needle-picker. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail as on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. Sis a detail of theswitch-cam and the pressure-stem therefor. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the switch-cam at diiferent stages of the fashioning process.

1 denotes the bed of the machine; 2, the stationary needle-cylinder thereon; 4, the

Fig. 2 is a detail of needles; 6, the rotatable cam-cylinder, and 8 the knitting-cams. These cams comprise the laterally-disposed stitch-cams a, the adjacent raising-cams 19, leading to the supportingledge c for the heels of the upthrown needles, the two-part guide-cam d, and the centrallydisposed switch-cam e.

. .The cam -cylinder is provided around its lower edge with bevel-gear teeth 9, with which coact the teeth of the usual bevel drivinggear, (not shown,) whereby the cam-cylinder may be either continuously rotated or oscillated about the needle-cylinder to actuate the needles for the production of a tubular or fiat w'eb,as desired.

- According to the preferred type of my invention I first form on the machine a flat web, either wholly or partially fashioned, and I then produce a tubular continuation thereof, the construction, arrangement, and operation of the switch-cam being such that the cylinder may be oscillated even though all the needles be in active position. This switchcam in the form illustrated comprises a depending wedge-shaped member provided at its upper or. larger end with a laterally-projecting pivot-stud 10, which is mounted in a vertically-movable slide 11, fitted to a guide way in the wall of the cam-cylinder. This slide is located centrally of the knitting-cams, so that by adjustment of the slide the switchcam'may be moved between or raisedabove the stitch-cams.

The switch-cam e is maintained normally in a central position by the action upon its pivot-stud of a spring-pressed stem 12. This stem is fitted at its lower end to a vertical socket in the upper portion of the slide, so as to bear upon an opposing flattened portion of the pivot-stud, the upper end of the slide being guided in a bracket13 on the wall of the cam-cylinder. A spring 14, encircling the stem, bears against a shoulder thereon and against the bracket in a manner tomaintain the stem normally depressed. By this construction it will be seen that though the switch-cam be oscillated from side to side by impact with the opposing needle-heels, so as to direct them to one or the other of the stitch-cams, it will normally resume its central position. When the slide is in its down or normal position, the switch-cam lies be tween the stitch-cams, and hence as the knitting-cams are turned about the needle-cylinder the switchcam engages the opposing needle-heels and directs them down into the path of the knitting-cams; but when, on the other hand, the slide is raised the switch-cam lies above the plane of the needle-heels and passes idly over the same, and hence such needles remain inactive.

As a simple and efficient means to raise and lower the slide at predetermined intervals I provide said slide with an outwardlyprojecting stud and mount on the bed of the machine an oscillatory cam-lever 16,which may be moved to set its cam portion 17 into or out of the path of the stud, as desired. Vlfhen the cam portion is in the path of the stud, the stud rides upon the same,and thereby raises the slide sutficiently to move the switch-cam out of action, a suitable latch de- Vice being provided to maintain the slide raised for a prescribed period. In the present instance the lever is fulcrumed on the bed of the machine by a stem 18, which depends below thebed. This stem is shouldered, as at 19, to engage the two sides of the lever, and its depending portion is encircled by a spring 20, which acting against a crossin 21 on the stem and against the under side of the bed serves to maintain the stem normally depressed. The stem is provided at its upper end with a handle 22, whereby the stem, and

perforce the lever, may be raised against the as at 23, and a spring-controlled plunger 24 is mounted in a casing on the bed-plate, so as to take against the beveled portions of the lever as the latter is swung from side to side during the operation of the machine, thereby locking the lever in its respective positions. The acting end of the plunger is V-shaped to en gage the correspondingly-beveled portions of the lever. The bed-plate is provided with laterally-disposed lugs 25, in which are fitted set-screws 26, which serve as adjustable stops to determine the throw of the lever 16. This lever is swung from side to side during the oscillations of the cam-cylinder, so as to bring the cam l7into position for timely cooperation with the stud 15, the movement of the lever being efiected by the engagement therewith of a projection 27, carried by a bracket 28, on the cam-cylinder. In the present instance the end of the cam-lever 16 is socketed, as at 29, and the projection during the rotation of the cam-cylinder registers with the socket similarly to a gear-tooth, and thereby swings the lever from one side to the other as the direction of movement of the cylinder may determine. i

The latch device above referred to for tem-. porarily supporting the slide-bar in its raised position comprises a lever 30, fulcrumed on the flange of the cam-cylinder, the longer arm of the lever being pressed normally against the side of the slide by the action of a spring 31, interposed between the shorter arm of the lever and the cam-cylinder. Hence when the slide is raised the lever moves automatically below the same and supports it. The longer arm of the lever is provided on its under side with a camway 32, and the bed of the machine is provided With a suitably-located campiece 33, which is adapted to register with said camway at a prescribed point in the movement of the cam-cylinder, so as to retract the latch-lever from the under side of the slide, and thus permit the latter to resume its normal or down position.

Preparatory to the production of flat-fash ioned workas, for example, a gradually- Widened web'all the fashioning=needles are moved successively into action until theentire circle of needles shall have been rendered operative. This being done,the cam-cylinder is continuously rotated and tubular work accomplished.

Any usual or approved type of needle-picking mechanism may be employed to render the fashioning needles operative. In the present instance I have illustrated a construction including the bracket 28 on the cam-cylinder, a vertical pintle 34', mounted on the bracket, and a picker-arm 35, pivoted. at one end of said pintle and extended into the camcylinder, through an opening in the wall of the latter. On the cam-cylinder is a V-shaped cam 36, at the apex of which the picker-arm is held by means of a suitable spring 37, the inner extremity of the arm being notched on opposite sides, as at 38, for engagement with the opposing needle-heels, so that during the oscillation of the cam-cylinder the raised or idle needles engaged by the arm will be moved thereby down into active position.

Normally the needle-picker is active. It is, however, inactive during the knitting of prescribed courses in fashioning work and also during the production of tubular work. A simple and efiicient means to render the picker periodically inactive is as follows:

Overhanging the picker-arm is one limb of an angle-piece 39, the other limb whereof eX tends through a vertically-movable post 40. By depressing this post the angle-piece bears upon the picker-arm and lowers it to an inactive position, and by raising the post the arm resumes its normal condition. In the post are two sockets 41 41, one above the other, and in a recess in the bracket 28 is a lower member of which, as-the vertical position of the rodmay determine, is adapted to be engaged by the outwardly-projecting portion of the angle-piece 39 to efiect the depression or the elevation of the post, as desired. When the rod is in its raised or normal position, the lower cam 46 is in service, and when the rod is depressed the upper cam 47 is in activeposition; Encircling the rod 45 is a spring 48, which bearing against the bracket and cam-head maintains the rod normally raised. To the lower end of the rod is pivoted one arm of a lever 49, which is fulcrnmed to a bracket 50, depending from the bed-plate, the other arm of said lever overhangingja suitable pattern-chain 51, which is carried and impelled by a sprocket-wheel 52 on asuitable shaft 53. This chain is provided with suitably-disposed high links 54:, which at predetermined intervals abut against and raise the opposing arm of the lever 49,thereby effecting the depression of the rod and its cam-head. When the high links escape the lever, the rod and cam-head resume their normal condition. 1

The operation of the machine may be briefly-described as follows: Assume it be desired to produce a stocking-leg blank having aselvaged fiat-fashioned portion for a part of its length and a seamless tubular portion for the remainder of its length. At the outset all the needles, excepting those representing the narrow endof the web, are raised tothe idlelevel that is, above the guide-cams (1. These raised needles constitute 'the fashionwith a stroke exceeding a complete revolution.

In one stroke of the cylinder the projectiom 27' engages the notched cam-lever 16, swings it laterally toward the'opposing stop, and

passes onward, as shown in Fig. 1. As the knitting-cams approach the end of the stroke the stud of'slidell rides upon the cam 17 ,there'-' by raising the slide and the switcl1-cam.- At the same time the 1atch-lever 30 passes under the slide and maintains it elevated. Hence in the continued movement of the cylinder the butts of the needles'are cleared from the stitch cams. (See Fig. 9.) Inthe return stroke of the cams the stud passes freely above" the cam 17; but as the switch-cam reaches the pointw the lever 30 by its engagement with the cam-piece 33 is retracted from beneath the'slide, thereby permitting the latter and its switch-cam to descend. (See Fig. 10.)

In the continued movement of the cylinder l the depressed switch-cam directs the opposing needle-heels into the path of the stitch-cams.

(See Fig. 11.) In this stroke the projection 27 rengages the notch of the lever 16 and swings it to the opposite side of the linexfor engagement by the stud of the slide as the" knitting-cams approachthe end of thestroke. During the oscillations of the cam-cylinder the needle-picker is rendered active and idle at predetermined intervals, so thatthe end fashioning-needles are moved into action for certain courses until the entire circle of needles are in operation. Thereupon the camlever is swung entirely out of action, so as to permit the switch-cam to remain in operation, and at the same time the needle-picker becomes idle. Continuous rotation of the cylinder is then eftectedand a seamlesstube of a predetermined length produced. The narrow portion of the blank thus formed may have added thereto the ankle, heel, foot, and toe of a stocking, and the edges of the flatfashioned portion may be seamed or otherwise connected, thus producing a stocking having "a full-fashionedleg.

Instead of forming solely the leg-blank my machine may be operated to produce a complete stocking-blank. In that case the blank will be commenced at the "toe part, the toe, foot, heel, and ankle being knitted in a flat web by oscillationsot the cam-cylinder and proper manipulation ofthe needles. Then the lower fashioned portion of the leg may be produced, as "above described, following which the tubluar portion of the leg may be formed.

Upon the completion of the leg the edges of the flat portion of the web from the toe to the tubular portion may be seamed or otherwise connected. l

I claim" r 1. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination'of the needle-cylinder, the needles, including fashioning needles, the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder, the knitting- Tcams, including stitch-cams, a" switch -'cam, and means operatedby the oscillations of the cam-cylinder for rendering said switch-cam active andinactive at a point or points centrally of the fashioning-needlemor substantially so, together with pickingmechanism for the fashioning-needles, andmeans for relideringsaidmechanismidle and active atpre= determined intervals.

2." In a circular-knittingmachine, the com= bination of theneedle-cylinder, its needlesfin cluding fashioning-needles'the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder, the knitting-cams, including stitch-cams; a"pivotedswitch-can1, and means operated by the oscillationsof the jcam-cylinder for rendering said switch cam active and inactive at a point or points cenoscillations of the cam-cylinder for rendering said switch-cam active and inactive at a point or points centrally of the fashioning-needles, or substantially so.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the needle-cylinder, its needles, including fashioning-needles, the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder, and the knitting-cams, of a vertically-movable support, a switch-cam thereon, and means for automatically raising and lowering said support to move the switch-cam above and between said knitting-cams at a point or points centrally of the fashioning=needles, together with picking mechanism for the fashioning-needles, and means for rendering said mechanism idle and active at predetermined intervals.

- 5. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the needle-cylinder, its needles, including fashioning-needles, the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder, and the knitting-cams, of a vertically-movable support, a pivoted switch-cam thereon,and means for automatically raising and lowering said support to move theswitoh-cam above and between said knitting-cams at a point or points centrally of the fashioning-needles, or substantially so, together with picking mechanism for the fashioning-needles, and means for rendering said mechanism idle and active at predetermined intervals.

6. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the needle-cylinder, its needles, including fashioning-needles the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder and the knitting-cams, of a vertically-movable support, a pivoted switch-cam thereon, means for maintaining said cam normally in central position, and. means for automatically raising and lowering said support to move the switch-cam above and between said knittingcams at a point or points centrally of the fashioning needles, or substantially so.

7. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the needle-cylinder,its needles, including fashioning-needles, the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder and the knittingcams, of the vertically-movable support, a switch-cam thereon adapted to be set between and above the knitting-cams at a point or points centrally of the fashioning-needles, or substantially so, means for normally depressing said support, means for raising the same, a latch device for maintaining said slide elevated, and means for tripping said device to release the slide.

8. In a circular-knitting machine, the com bination with the needle-cylinder, its needles, including fashioning-needles, the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder, and the knitting-cams, of a vertically-movable support, a switch-cam thereon adapted to be set between and above said knitting-cams,ata point or points centrally of the fashioning-needles, or substantially so, means for normally depressing said support, a cam movable in proximity to the rotary path of the support,means on the support to engage said cam and efiect the elevation of the support, a latch device for maintaining said support elevated, and means for tripping said device to release the support.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination with the cam-cylinder and the knitting-cams, of a vertically-movable slide, a switch cam thereon movable between or above said knitting-cams as desired, means for normally depressing said slide, a cam-1ever movable in proximity to the rotary path of the slide, means on the cam-cylinder for swinging said lever from side to side according to the stroke of said cylinder, means on the slide to engage said cam and effect the elevation of the slide, a latch device for maintaining said slide elevated, and means for tripping said device to release the slide.

10. In a circular-knittin g machine, the combination of the needle-cylinder, its needles, including fashioning-needles the rotatable and oscillatory cam-cylinder, the knittingcams, including stitch-cams, a switch-cam, means for automatically rendering said switch-cam active and inactive at a point or points centrally of the fashioning-needles, or substantially so, picking mechanism for the fashioning-needles, and means for rendering said mechanism idle and active at predetermined intervals.

11. In a circular-knitting machine,the combination with the cam-cylinder and its knitting-cams, including the stitch-cams, of a vertically-movable support,a pivoted switchcam, means for maintaining said switch-cam yieldingly in a centrally-depending position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

KARL PALME.

WVitnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, JOHN R. NOLAN. 

